Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al Safadi opened the kingdom's consulate in Laayoune, Morocco on March 4, 2021. AFP
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al Safadi opened the kingdom's consulate in Laayoune, Morocco on March 4, 2021. AFP
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al Safadi opened the kingdom's consulate in Laayoune, Morocco on March 4, 2021. AFP
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al Safadi opened the kingdom's consulate in Laayoune, Morocco on March 4, 2021. AFP

Jordan opens consulate in Laayoune


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Jordan opened a consulate in Morocco's Sahara region on Thursday in support of Rabat's sovereignty over the region.

Official media said Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al Safadi and Nasser Bourita, his Moroccan counterpart, inaugurated the embassy in Laayoune.

Footage tweeted by the Moroccan foreign ministry showed the two men cutting a ribbon in the colours of the Moroccan flag outside the consulate.

The move follows the UAE and Bahrain opening consulates in Laayoune late last year.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II and King Mohamed VI of Morocco have close ties.

Both monarchs are in their late 50s and took their respective thrones in 1999.

Morocco administers about 80 per cent of the 266,000-square-kilometre desert region. The self-declared Sahrawi Arab Republic, which is supported by Algeria, holds the rest of the area.

The breakaway state is not recognised by the United Nations.

A number of Arab and African states unequivocally support Morocco’s claim to the region.

The Donald Trump administration backed Morocco's claim in the final months of the former US president's term.

In December, the American ambassador to Rabat announced that the United States, in support of Morocco, had adopted a new official map of the country that included the Sahara.

In January, senior foreign US policy official David Schenker visited the Sahara and met its Morocco-appointed governor. Mr Schenker has since left his post and the administration of President Joe Biden has yet to articulate a position on the matter.

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Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:

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Dates for the diary

To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:

  • September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
  • October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
  • October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
  • November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
  • December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
  • February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
While you're here

8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21

  1. Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
  2. Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
  3. Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
  4. Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
  5. Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
  6. Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
  7. Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
  8. Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
Changing visa rules

For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.

Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.

It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.

The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.

The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

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